WO2005114785A1

WO2005114785A1 - Antenna device and rader device using the same

Info

Publication number: WO2005114785A1
Application number: PCT/JP2005/006238
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tomohiro Nagai
Original assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2004-05-21
Filing date: 2005-03-31
Publication date: 2005-12-01
Also published as: JP4337876B2; DE112005000876T5; DE112005000876B4; US20070035461A1; US7453411B2; JPWO2005114785A1

Abstract

A primary radiator (1) comprises a transmitting section (12) in the form of a cylindrical waveguide extending in a direction parallel with the frontal direction of an antenna device, and a radiating section (11) of rectangular horn shape extending in a direction normal to the frontal direction. Further, the end of the transmitting section (12) of the primary radiator (1) on the side to which the radiating section (11) is not connected is rotatably connected to a waveguide (5) coaxial with the transmitting section (12) by a rotary joint (4). A first reflector (2) consists of an offset parabola reflector, disposed above the primary radiator (1) in a predetermined attitude with respect to the primary radiator (1). A second reflector (3) is parabolic in its vertical direction and torus in its horizontal direction and is disposed under the primary radiator (1) in a predetermined attitude with respect to the primary radiator (1) so as to obtain predetermined directivity.

Description

Specification

Antenna device and radar device using the same

Technical field

The present invention relates to an antenna device that radiates a signal while rotating a primary radiator mechanically and reflects the signal in a predetermined direction by a reflector, and a target in a beam transmission direction using the antenna device. The present invention relates to a radar device for detecting a radar.

Background art

Conventionally, an on-vehicle radar device beam-forms a millimeter wave signal for detecting a target, transmits the beam in the detection direction, and reflects a signal reflected from the target (hereinafter, referred to as a “target reflected signal”). It receives and detects the target in the detection area. Such a radar device includes a primary radiator that radiates a millimeter-wave signal from a predetermined radiation surface, and reflects a millimeter-wave signal radiated from the primary radiator in a detection direction, or an object from within the detection area. A reflector that reflects the target reflection signal and guides the signal to the primary radiator. Further, in the radar apparatus, in order to detect a target within a detection area having a predetermined width, the beam of the millimeter wave signal must be scanned in a predetermined direction, for example, a horizontal direction. For this reason, conventional radar systems use a phased array antenna to transmit by electronically scanning the beam of the millimeter-wave signal to be transmitted, or by rotating and moving a primary radiator or reflector. A mechanical scan method in which a beam of a millimeter wave signal is mechanically scanned is used.

[0003] As described in Patent Document 1, a conventional radar apparatus using a mechanical scan method uses a direction perpendicular to a beam transmission direction as a rotation axis direction of a primary radiator, and a circle extending outward from the rotation axis. A primary radiator is installed on the peripheral surface side, and a reflector is installed over a predetermined angular range at a position separated by a predetermined distance from a rotational axial force at which the primary radiator is installed. The shape of this reflector is designed so that a millimeter wave signal is transmitted over a desired scanning range. In such a radar device, a signal radiated from the primary radiator is reflected by a reflector to form a transmission beam having directivity in a predetermined direction. Then, by rotating the primary radiator about the rotation axis, the radiation direction of the radio wave radiated from the primary radiator rotates, and the reflection direction changes with the reflector, and a predetermined intensity for scanning within a predetermined angle range. Degree transmission beams are formed.

Patent Document 1: Patent No. 2693497

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

However, in the conventional antenna device of the radar device using the mechanical scanning method as shown in Patent Document 1, since one reflector cannot be installed, one antenna device is required. I couldn't give one direction and power. For this reason, in order to form a radar device that detects a plurality of different detection regions, it is necessary to install an antenna device having directivity corresponding to each detection region, and the radar device becomes large. It will be.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a small antenna device having a plurality of directivities and a radar device including the same.

Means for solving the problem

[0006] The present invention provides a primary radiator that emits a signal in a direction different from the rotation axis direction while rotating, reflects a signal radiated from the primary radiator, and guides the signal to a beam transmission direction of an antenna device. In an antenna device including a reflector that reflects a target reflection signal from a beam transmission direction and guides the signal to a primary radiator, the primary radiator is arranged in a posture in which a rotation axis direction substantially coincides with a beam transmission direction. Characterized by

[0007] With this configuration, the center of the radiation direction of the signal radiated from the primary radiator has a predetermined angle with respect to the beam transmission direction of the antenna device, and is not parallel. The radiated signal is reflected by the reflector, beam-formed, and propagated in the beam transmission direction. At this time, since the rotation axis direction of the primary radiator and the beam transmission direction are almost parallel, the reflector should be placed at any position on the entire circumference in the external direction of the rotation axis of the primary radiator. Becomes possible.

[0008] Further, the antenna device of the present invention is characterized in that the primary radiator is arranged in a posture in which the radiation direction of the primary radiator and the rotation axis direction form an angle of 30 ° or more.

[0009] In this configuration, since the radiation direction of the primary radiator and the direction of the rotation axis make a predetermined angle or more, the arrangement position and the shape of the reflector disposed to face the radiation surface of the primary radiator are set. Cool In other words, when the angle between the radiation direction and the rotation axis direction is small, the radiation surface force of the primary radiator approaches the radiation direction of the radiated signal to be parallel to the rotation axis direction. For this reason, even if the primary radiator is rotated, there is almost no change in the radiation direction of the signal with the primary radiator force. On the other hand, when the angle formed between the radiation direction and the rotation axis direction is large, that is, approaches the vertical, the change in the radiation direction by the primary radiator increases. As a result, when a plurality of reflectors described later are provided, the range in which these reflectors can be installed is widened.

[0010] The antenna device of the present invention is characterized by including a plurality of reflectors.

[0011] In this configuration, by providing a plurality of reflectors, a beam formed by each reflector is transmitted during one rotation of the primary radiator.

[0012] Further, the antenna device of the present invention is characterized in that a plurality of reflectors are respectively formed in different shapes.

[0013] In this configuration, since the shapes of the plurality of reflectors are different, it is possible to make the directivity of the beam formed by each reflector different during one rotation of the primary radiator.

[0014] Further, the antenna device of the present invention is characterized in that a plurality of reflectors are arranged in different postures with respect to the primary radiator.

[0015] In this configuration, since the attitudes of the plurality of reflectors are different, the directivities of the beams are different, so that different beams can be transmitted and received during one rotation of the primary radiator.

[0016] Further, the antenna device of the present invention is characterized by including a housing in which the primary radiator and the reflector are installed inside! / Puru.

[0017] In this configuration, by providing the housing, each part of the antenna device is protected from external environmental forces.

Further, the antenna device of the present invention is characterized in that the reflector and the housing are formed integrally.

[0019] In this configuration, since the reflector and the housing form a body, the number of components of the antenna device is reduced.

[0020] Also, the radar device of the present invention generates a signal radiated from the above-described antenna device and the primary radiator, and uses the signal and a target reflection signal guided to the primary radiator to detect a detection signal. And a detection signal generation means for generating the detection signal. In this configuration, by using the above-described antenna device, a radar device that has a desired beam directivity and detects a desired detection area is formed. In particular, by providing a plurality of reflectors for the antenna device, and by setting the shape and attitude of the reflector such that these reflectors also have different beam directivities due to the reflected signals, only a single antenna device can be used. A radar device for detecting a plurality of detection regions is formed.

The invention's effect

According to the present invention, the primary radiator force The center of the radiated signal in the radiation direction has a predetermined angle with respect to the beam transmission direction of the antenna device, is not parallel, and is in the direction of the rotation axis of the primary radiator. Since the beam transmission direction is substantially parallel to the beam transmission direction, the reflector can be disposed at any position on the entire circumference in the external direction with respect to the rotation axis of the primary radiator. This facilitates disposing a plurality of reflectors having different beam directivities.

Further, according to the present invention, since the radiation direction of the primary radiator and the rotation axis direction form a predetermined angle or more, the position and shape of the reflector disposed to face the radiation surface of the primary radiator are changed. Easy to set. Accordingly, when a plurality of reflectors having different beam directivities are arranged, the range in which these reflectors can be installed is widened, and the arrangement of the reflectors is facilitated.

According to the present invention, by providing a plurality of reflectors, a beam formed by each reflector is transmitted during one rotation of the primary radiator. Thus, by using a plurality of reflectors each having a different beam directivity, it is possible to transmit a plurality of beams having different directivities during one rotation of the primary radiator.

[0025] Further, according to the present invention, by making the shapes of the plurality of reflectors different from each other, it is possible to make the directivity of a beam formed by each of the reflectors different. An antenna device for transmitting a plurality of beams having different directivities by using an antenna can be configured.

[0026] Further, according to the present invention, the orientations of the plurality of reflectors with respect to the primary radiator are different from each other, so that the directivity of the beams is different. Transmission and reception are possible, and multiple directivity An antenna device for transmitting a number of beams can be configured.

Further, according to the present invention, by providing the housing, each component of the antenna device is protected from the external environment, so that a plurality of different directivities can be provided by the above-described primary radiator. It is possible to configure an antenna device that has the effect of having and has excellent durability.

Further, according to the present invention, since the reflector and the housing are formed as a body, the number of components of the antenna device is reduced. As a result, a single primary radiator has a plurality of different directivities, has the effect of being more durable, and can be manufactured easily and at low cost.

Further, according to the present invention, by using the above-described antenna device, it is possible to form a radar device having desired beam directivity and detecting a desired detection area. In particular, a single primary radiator having a single primary radiator is provided by setting a shape and a posture of the reflector so that a plurality of reflectors of the antenna device are provided, and the directivity of the beam is also different depending on the reflected signal. A radar device that detects a plurality of detection areas can be configured with only one antenna device. Accordingly, a radar device having a plurality of beam directivities, that is, a radar device capable of detecting a plurality of detection areas can be formed in a relatively small size.

FIG. 1 is an external view of an antenna device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the antenna device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between the rotation angle of the primary radiator 1 and the directivity of the antenna device when the radiation surface of the secondary radiator 1 faces the first reflector 2 side.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship between the rotation angle of the primary radiator 1 and the directivity of the antenna device when the radiation surface of the primary radiator 1 faces the second reflector 3 side.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a relative positional relationship between a secondary radiator and a reflector.

FIG. 6 is a view showing shapes of various radiators.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of an antenna device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of an antenna device according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an external view showing a schematic configuration of an antenna device according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of an antenna device according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of an antenna device according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a radar device according to a seventh embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

[0031] 1 primary radiator

11 One radiation part

12—Transmission section

2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10—Reflector

4 rotary joint

5—waveguide

6—motor

100—Antenna device

200—circulator

300—Mixer

400—Power plastic

401—reflection-free termination

500-VCO

600-LNA

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An antenna device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is an external view of the antenna device of the present embodiment.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are side views of the antenna device of the present embodiment. FIG. 2A shows a state where the primary radiator 1 faces the reflector 2 side, and FIG. 2B shows a state where the primary radiator 1 faces the reflector 3 side. Indicates the facing state. It should be noted that the dotted arrows in the figure indicate the radiation direction of the millimeter wave signal and the transmission direction of the transmission beam having the millimeter wave signal power, and the thick solid arrow indicates the front direction of the antenna device. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the antenna device includes a primary radiator 1, a first reflector 2, a second reflector 3, a rotary joint 4, a waveguide 5, and a motor 6. The primary radiator 1 includes a transmission section 12 formed of a cylindrical waveguide having a predetermined diameter extending in a direction parallel to the front direction of the antenna device, and a rectangular horn shape extending in a direction perpendicular to the front direction. And a radiating section 11. The radiating section 11 has a rectangular horn-shaped end face having a larger opening area as a radiating face, and an end face having a smaller opening area as a connecting face to the transmission section 12. The radiating section 11 is also connected to a position at a predetermined distance also at one end of the transmitting section 12. At this time, the radiating unit 11 and the transmitting unit 12 are connected so that the extending direction of the radiating unit 11 and the extending direction of the transmitting unit 12 are perpendicular to each other. As a result, the direction in which the radiating portion 11 of the primary radiator 1 extends becomes a direction perpendicular to the front direction of the antenna device, and the radiation surface of the primary radiator 1 becomes a surface perpendicular to the direction perpendicular to the front direction of the antenna device. . As a result, the center of the primary radiator 1 in the radiation direction of the radiated signal is a direction perpendicular to the front direction of the antenna device. Note that the transmission unit 12 may be formed of a coaxial line or a circular dielectric line.

The end of the transmitting part 12 of the primary radiator 1 on the side where the radiating part 11 is not connected is connected to the waveguide 5 whose central axis in the direction in which the transmitting part 12 extends is connected to the waveguide 5 by the rotary joint 4. A motor 6 for rotating the primary radiator 1 with the center axis of the transmission unit 12 as the rotation axis A is installed at an end of the transmission unit 12 on the side to which the radiation unit 11 is connected. Te ru. As a result, the primary radiator 1 emits a signal in a direction perpendicular to the front direction of the antenna device (the direction parallel to the rotation axis A) and centered on a direction corresponding to the rotation angle. That is, by rotating the primary radiator 1, it becomes possible to radiate signals in the entire circumferential direction of a plane perpendicular to the front direction of the antenna device.

[0036] The first reflector 2 is also a so-called offset parabolic reflector that has a shape obtained by partially cutting out a circle having a predetermined diameter and a paraboloid of rotation having a predetermined diameter, so as to obtain a predetermined directivity. It is arranged above the primary radiator 1 in a predetermined posture with respect to the primary radiator 1. Specifically, when the radiating section 11 of the primary radiator 1 is arranged vertically above the transmitting section 12, the directivity of the beam formed by the reflection of the first reflector 2 is directly in front of the antenna device. The first reflector 2 is installed in such a posture that it becomes the strongest when the angle in the front direction and the horizontal direction is 0 °.

[0037] The second reflector 3 has a parabolic shape in the vertical direction and a torus shape in the horizontal direction, and has a predetermined position with respect to the primary radiator 1 so as to obtain a predetermined directivity. Lower side of vessel 1 Are located in Specifically, when the radiating section 11 of the primary radiator 1 is arranged vertically below the transmitting section 12, the directivity of the beam formed by the reflection of the second reflector 3 is directly in front of the antenna device ( The second reflector 3 is installed in such a manner that it becomes strongest when the angle in the front direction and the horizontal direction is 0 °).

In such an antenna device, when a millimeter-wave signal for detection is transmitted via the waveguide 5, the millimeter-wave signal is transmitted to the transmission unit 12 of the primary radiator 1, Radiation is radiated from the radiation surface with the direction perpendicular to the front direction of the antenna device as the center of the radiation direction. Here, if the radiating surface of the primary radiator 1 faces the first reflector 2 side, the radiating surface of the primary radiator 1 also reflects the emitted millimeter wave signal by the first reflector 2. Since the first reflector 2 is formed in a shape that forms a beam having strong directivity over a narrow angle range in the horizontal direction in the front direction of the antenna device due to reflection, the first reflector 2 is reflected by the first reflector 2. The beam of the millimeter wave signal is transmitted to a narrow area in the front direction of the antenna.

When a target is present in the detection area in the front direction of the antenna by the beam formed by the first reflector 2, the transmitted millimeter wave signal is reflected on the target and transmitted toward the antenna device. This target reflection signal is reflected by the first reflector 2 and is concentrated and received on the emission surface of the primary radiator 1. The target reflection signal is transmitted through the radiating section 11 and the transmitting section 12 of the primary radiator 1, guided to the waveguide 5, and output from the waveguide 5 to an external circuit.

Here, the characteristic of the beam formed by the reflection of the millimeter wave signal by the first reflector 2, that is, the directivity is determined by the relative attitude between the reflection surface of the first reflector 2 and the radiation surface of the primary radiator 1. As the primary radiator 1 rotates, the directivity changes.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a relationship between the rotation angle of the primary radiator 1 and the directivity of the antenna device when the radiation surface of the primary radiator 1 faces the first reflector 2 side. ) To (d), the rotation angle of the primary radiator 1, that is, the relative attitude between the reflecting surface of the first reflector 2 and the radiation surface of the primary radiator 1 is different. The angle shown on the horizontal axis in the figure indicates the angle formed in the horizontal direction with this direction as the reference direction, with 0 ° being the direction directly in front of the antenna device. The rotation angle of the primary radiator in the figure is 0 ° when the primary radiator 1 is directed directly upward, and shows the angle formed with respect to this reference direction. The frequency of the used millimeter wave signal is 76 GHz, which is used for on-vehicle radar equipment. As shown in FIG. 3, by rotating the primary radiator 1, the horizontal angle of the maximum peak of the antenna gain changes. Thereby, a beam that scans in the horizontal direction can be formed. Specifically, in the case of FIG. 3, it is possible to form an antenna device having an antenna gain of 35 dBi in the front direction (0 ° direction) and capable of scanning up to about ± 7 ° in the horizontal direction. As a result, a target with a horizontal scanning angle of ± 7 ° can be detected up to a position about 150 m in the front direction.

On the other hand, if the radiation surface of primary radiator 1 faces the second reflector 3, the millimeter-wave signal radiated from the radiation surface of primary radiator 1 will be reflected by second reflector 3. The second reflector 3 is formed by reflection so as to form a beam having a directivity of 1 ° wider in the horizontal direction than the beam by the first reflector 2 in the front direction of the antenna device. Then, the beam of the millimeter wave signal reflected by the second reflector 3 is transmitted to a wide area in the front direction of the antenna.

When a target exists in the detection area in the front direction of the antenna by the beam formed by the second reflector 3, the transmitted millimeter wave signal is reflected on the target and transmitted toward the antenna device. This target reflection signal is reflected by the second reflector 3 and is concentrated and received on the emission surface of the primary radiator 1. The target reflection signal is transmitted through the radiating section 11 and the transmitting section 12 of the primary radiator 1, guided to the waveguide 5, and output from the waveguide 5 to an external circuit.

Here, the characteristic of the beam formed by the reflection of the millimeter wave signal by the second reflector 3, that is, the directivity, is determined by the relative attitude between the reflection surface of the second reflector 3 and the radiation surface of the primary radiator 1. As the primary radiator 1 rotates, the directivity changes.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship between the rotation angle of the primary radiator 1 and the directivity of the antenna device when the radiation surface of the primary radiator 1 faces the second reflector 3. ) To (d), the rotation angle of the primary radiator 1, that is, the relative attitude between the reflecting surface of the second reflector 3 and the radiation surface of the primary radiator 1 is different. The angle shown on the horizontal axis in the figure indicates the angle formed in the horizontal direction with this direction as the reference direction, with 0 ° being the direction directly in front of the antenna device. The rotation angle of the primary radiator in the figure is 0 ° when the primary radiator 1 is directed downward, and indicates the angle formed with respect to this reference direction. The frequency of the used millimeter wave signal is 76 GHz, which is used for on-vehicle radar equipment. As shown in FIG. 4, by rotating the primary radiator 1, the horizontal angle of the maximum peak of the antenna gain changes more than in the case of the first reflector 2. This makes it possible to form a beam that scans in a wider range in the horizontal direction. Specifically, in the case of FIG. 4, it is possible to form an antenna device having an antenna gain of 22 dBi in the front direction (0 ° direction) and capable of scanning up to about ± 40 ° in the horizontal direction. As a result, it is possible to detect a target having a horizontal scanning angle of ± 40 ° at a position about 40 m in the front direction.

As described above, by using the configuration of the present embodiment, an antenna device having a plurality of directivities can be formed using one primary radiator. As a result, for example, as in the example described above, a target that is far away in a narrow range including the frontal direction and a target that is closer in a wider range can be detected during one rotation of the primary radiator.

In the above description, the force described in the case where the radiation direction of the primary radiator (the direction in which the radiation part extends) is perpendicular to the rotation axis A direction (the front direction of the antenna device) is shown in FIG. In addition, the angle formed between the radial direction and the direction of the rotation axis A may be a non-acute angle having almost no angle, for example, 30 ° or more and less than 90 °. Fig. 5 is a side view showing the relative positional relationship between the primary radiator and the reflector. The dotted arrows in the figure indicate the radiation direction of the millimeter-wave signal and the transmission direction of the transmission beam having the millimeter-wave signal power, and the thick solid line arrow indicates the front direction of the antenna device. As a result, the design flexibility of the focal length, the depth, and the diameter of the reflector is increased, and the layout flexibility of the primary radiator and the reflector is improved. As a result, an antenna device having desired antenna characteristics can be easily formed.

In the above description, the shape of the reflector is formed as a paraboloid of revolution or a torus shape. However, any shape can be used as long as desired characteristics can be obtained. Such reflectors [J

(1) Mirror surface modified to obtain desired directivity

(2) Composite of torus shape and paraboloid of revolution

(3) Composite of multiple paraboloids of revolution

And so on. These reflectors can be formed by a method such as die casting, cutting ij, forging, resin plating, vapor deposition, wire knitting, printing, and the like.

In the above description, the radiator of the primary radiator has a rectangular horn shape. Radiators of various shapes as shown in Fig. 6 may be used.

Fig. 6 shows the shapes of various radiators, (a) shows a circular horn radiator, (b) shows a dielectric rod type radiator, (c) a patch antenna, and (d) a slot antenna.

Even if a primary radiator having such a configuration is used, the above-described effects can be obtained.

Next, an antenna device according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of the antenna device according to the present embodiment. The dotted arrows in the figure indicate the radiation direction of the millimeter wave signal and the transmission direction of the transmission beam having the millimeter wave signal power, and the thick solid arrow indicates the front direction of the antenna device.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the antenna device of the present embodiment, the first reflector 3 and the third reflector 7 having the same shape above and below the primary radiator 1 are point-symmetric with respect to the focal point existing in the primary radiator 1. The other configuration is the same as that shown in the first embodiment. Thus, the reflecting surface of the first reflector 2 faces the front of the antenna, and the reflecting surface of the third reflector 7 faces the rear of the antenna. Here, in the present embodiment, the focal point is equal to the intersection of the center line in the direction in which the radiating section 11 of the primary radiator 1 extends and the center line in the direction in which the transmitting section 12 extends. With such a structure, the first reflector 2 above the primary radiator 1 forms a beam in the front direction of the antenna, and the third reflector 7 below the primary radiator 1 forms a beam in the rear direction of the antenna. To form Thereby, a beam is formed forward and backward while the primary radiator 1 is rotated, so that the detection can be performed, and the forward detection and the backward detection can be realized by one antenna device.

[0053] In the above description, reflectors having the same shape of the two reflectors and different forces may be used. In this case, the attitude of each reflector with respect to the primary radiator should be such that the desired antenna characteristics (directivity) can be obtained! ,.

In the above explanation, the upper reflector of the primary radiator transmits the beam in the front direction, and the lower reflector is arranged in the posture of transmitting the beam in the rear direction. The upper reflector transmits the beam in the rear direction. And the reflector of Shimotsuku j may be placed in a position to transmit the beam in the front direction.

Next, an antenna device according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of the antenna device according to the present embodiment. The figure The dotted arrow in the middle indicates the radiation direction of the millimeter wave signal and the transmission direction of the transmission beam having the millimeter wave signal power, and the thick solid arrow indicates the front direction of the antenna device.

In the antenna device shown in FIG. 8, the first reflector 2 is disposed above the primary radiator 1, and is positioned symmetrically below the first reflector 2 with respect to the rotation axis A of the primary radiator 1 with respect to the first reflector 2. In addition, a fourth reflector 8 is arranged. The first reflector 2 sets the direction of the beam formed by reflection to be obliquely downward in the front direction, and the fourth reflector 8 sets the direction of the beam formed by reflection to be obliquely upward in the front direction. Other configurations are the same as those of the antenna device shown in the first embodiment. With such a configuration, it is possible to form an antenna device that transmits a beam substantially simultaneously in the upper front direction and the lower front direction. As a result, forward detection and vertical (up / down) detection can be realized with one antenna device.

In the above description, the first reflector 4 and the fourth reflector 8 have substantially the same shape, but reflectors having different shapes may be used for each.

Next, an antenna device according to a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 9 is an external view showing a schematic configuration of the antenna device according to the present embodiment. In the antenna device shown in FIG. 9, the first reflector 2 is arranged above the primary radiator 1, the fourth reflector 8 is arranged below, the fifth reflector 9 is arranged on the right side, and the first reflector 2 is arranged on the left side. The sixth reflector 10 is arranged, and the fifth and sixth reflectors 9, 10 have a predetermined directivity in the front direction of the antenna device. The other configuration is the same as that of the antenna device shown in the first embodiment. With this configuration, the first and fourth reflectors 2 and 8 form beams that scan in the horizontal direction in the front direction of the antenna, and the fifth and sixth reflectors 9 and 10 are vertical in the front direction of the antenna. Form a beam that scans in the direction. This makes it possible to realize an antenna device that can perform horizontal scanning and vertical scanning during one rotation of the primary radiator.

In this embodiment, an example in which four reflectors are used is used. The number of reflectors used may be more than three or four in order to obtain desired characteristics. .

Further, in this embodiment, all the reflectors are installed in a posture for forming a beam in the front direction. However, as shown in the second embodiment, a plurality of reflectors are used for the front and rear surfaces. And may be installed separately. For example, the reflectors located above and to the right of primary radiator 1 are used for the front, and the reflectors located below and to the left of the primary radiator are used for the back, so that one rotation of the primary radiator It is possible to realize an antenna device that enables horizontal scanning and vertical scanning in the front direction and horizontal scanning and vertical scanning in the rear direction.

Next, an antenna device according to a fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 10 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of the antenna device according to the present embodiment. The dotted arrows in the figure indicate the radiation direction of the millimeter wave signal and the transmission direction of the transmission beam having the millimeter wave signal power, and the thick solid arrow indicates the front direction of the antenna device.

As shown in FIG. 10, the antenna device of the present embodiment is such that the primary radiator is arranged such that the direction of the rotation axis A of the primary radiator forms a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal direction. This is the same as the antenna device shown in the third embodiment. With this configuration, the relative attitude between the primary radiator and the reflector, that is, the degree of freedom of the layout of each component of the antenna device is improved. This configuration can be applied not only to the third embodiment but also to each of the above-described embodiments.

Next, an antenna device according to a sixth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of the antenna device according to the present embodiment. The thick solid arrow in the figure indicates the front direction of the antenna device.

As shown in FIG. 11, the antenna device according to the present embodiment includes a housing 20 containing a primary radiator 1, a first reflector 2, a second reflector 3, a rotary joint 4, a waveguide 5, and a motor 6. The other configuration is the same as that of the antenna device shown in the first embodiment. The housing 20 includes a side wall 21 that covers the above components in the vertical and horizontal directions, a back cover 22 that covers the back of the antenna device, and a radome 23 that covers the front of the antenna device. The side wall 21 of the housing 20 is formed integrally with the first reflector 2 and the second reflector 3.

With such a configuration, each component of the antenna device is protected from external environmental forces, and an antenna device having excellent durability can be configured. In addition, since the housing and the reflector are integrally formed, the number of components of the antenna device is reduced, so that an easy-to-manufacture and inexpensive antenna device can be configured. [0061] In the present embodiment, the reflector and the housing are formed as a single body. However, the reflector and the housing may be individually formed.

Further, in the present embodiment, each component (each functional unit) of the antenna device is built in the housing. Each functional unit as a radar device described later may be arranged in the housing. This makes it possible to realize a radar device having excellent durability.

Next, a radar device according to a seventh embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the radar device according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 12, the radar device according to the present embodiment includes an antenna device 100, a circuit 200, a mixer 300, a coupler 400, a non-reflection terminator 401, a VCO 500, and an LNA 600. Then, as the antenna device 100, the antenna device described in each of the above embodiments is used. Here, the circulator 200, the mixer 300, the coupler 400, the non-reflection terminator 401, the VCO 500, and the LNA 600 correspond to the "detection signal generating means" of the present invention.

The millimeter wave signal generated by VCO 500 is transmitted to antenna apparatus 100 via coupler 400 and circulator 200. The antenna device 100 forms a transmission beam in the target detection area as described above, and receives the target detection signal reflected on the target. The target detection signal received by the antenna device 100 is input to the mixer 300 via the circulator 200. The mixer 300 inputs a part of the signal from the VCO 500 as a local signal via the coupler 400, and outputs a frequency component of a difference between the target detection signal and the local signal as an IF signal. The LNA 600 amplifies this IF signal and outputs it to a subsequent detection data generation circuit (not shown).

As described above, by configuring a radar device including the above-described antenna device, a plurality of directional beams are formed by one primary radiator, and thus a plurality of detection areas are detected. Can be made compact.

Further, as described above, components such as the circulator 200, the mixer 300, the coupler 400, the non-reflection terminator 401, the VCO 500, and the LNA 600, which constitute the radar device, are arranged in the housing of the antenna device. As a result, it is possible to realize a small-sized and highly durable radar device.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] A primary radiator that emits a signal in a direction different from the rotation axis direction while rotating, reflects a signal radiated from the primary radiator, guides the signal to the beam transmission direction of the antenna device, and transmits the beam. A reflector that reflects a target reflected signal from a direction and guides the reflected signal to the primary radiator,

The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the primary radiator is disposed so that the rotation axis direction and the beam transmission direction substantially coincide with each other.

2. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the primary radiator is disposed so that a radiation direction of the primary radiator and a direction of the rotation axis form an angle of 30 ° or more.

3. The antenna device according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of the reflectors.

4. The antenna device according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of reflectors have different shapes.

5. The antenna device according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of reflectors are arranged in different postures with respect to the primary radiator.

6. The antenna device according to claim 1, further comprising a housing in which the primary radiator and the reflector are installed.

7. The antenna device according to claim 6, wherein the reflector and the housing are formed in a body.

[8] The antenna device according to claims 1 to 7,

Detection signal generation means for generating a signal to be radiated by the primary radiator, and generating a detection signal by using the signal and the target reflection signal guided to the primary radiator. Radar equipment.